Non-Fiction Books Market Report 2025

This Non-Fiction Books market report provides a comprehensive analysis of the market’s characteristics, size, and growth, including segmentation, regional and country-level breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends, and strategies. It also tracks historical and forecasted market growth across various geographies.

The non-fiction books market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $15.3 billion in 2024 to $15.78 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to educational curriculum, biographies and memoirs, self-help and personal development, cultural and social relevance, research and professional development.

The non-fiction books market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $17.14 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to diversity and inclusivity, science and technology advancements, mental health and wellbeing, data-driven publishing, sustainability and eco-friendly publishing. Major trends in the forecast period include narrative non-fiction, political and social commentary, multimedia and interactive content, local and niche topics, hybrid formats.

The growth of the non-fiction books market is expected to be driven by the adoption of online sales platforms during the forecast period. With the increasing global access to internet services, the number of digital buyers continues to rise each year. Online platforms provide significant value by facilitating communication and trade, and they come with relatively low operating costs. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted bookstores to invest more in online sales channels, with a particular focus on books related to health knowledge to address the epidemic. These online bookstores are offering general discounts of 20% to 30%, resulting in higher sales volumes compared to traditional bookstores.

Major companies in the non-fiction books market are focusing on launching innovative products, such as e-book apps and platforms, to improve accessibility and offer readers a more convenient and interactive way to engage with non-fiction content. E-book apps and platforms are digital tools or online services that enable users to access, read, and sometimes purchase electronic books (e-books) on devices like smartphones, tablets, and e-readers. For example, in November 2023, Rokomari, a Bangladesh-based digital commerce company, launched its eBook library. Integrated with Rokomari's existing e-book platforms, both web and mobile, the library allows users to seamlessly access and read a wide range of digital books. The eBook library is designed to offer an exceptional reading experience, with features tailored to digital readers. It offers books across various categories, including fiction, non-fiction, Islamic literature, children's and adolescent books, academic resources, and career-focused materials.

In August 2022, Brookings, a US-based nonprofit public policy organization, entered into a partnership with Rowman & Littlefield, aiming to co-publish books, with Rowman & Littlefield responsible for production, distribution, sales, and marketing of Brookings Institution Press titles. Rowman & Littlefield is a US-based publisher with a wide range of book genres, including fiction, non-fiction, academic, health and fitness, and history.

In May 2024, Pushkin Press, a UK-based publishing company, acquired Steerforth Press and Hanover Publisher Services for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition allows Pushkin Press to strengthen its presence in the American publishing market and expand its offerings to U.S. readers. Hanover Publisher Services is a U.S.-based small press distribution unit operated by Steerforth Press, a U.S.-based publisher specializing in non-fiction books.

Major companies operating in the non-fiction books market include HarperCollins Publishers LLC, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, Scholastic Corporation, Pearson PLC, McGraw Hill LLC, Penguin Random House LLC, Hachette Livre S.A., Thomson Reuters Corporation, Elsevier B.V., Andrews McMeel Publishing LLC, The Experiment LLC, Storey Publishing LLC, Diversion Books LLC, Chronicle Books LLC, Simon & Schuster Inc., Hachette Book Group Inc., Macmillan Publishers Limited, W. W. Norton & Company Inc., Yale University Press, The University of Chicago Press, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Princeton University Press, University of California Press, Beacon Press, Basic Books Inc., Da Capo Press Inc., PublicAffairs LLC, St. Martin's Press LLC, The University of Michigan Press, University of Minnesota Press, The University of North Carolina Press, University of Pennsylvania Press, University of Texas Press, University of Virginia Press, University Press of Florida, University Press of Kansas, University Press of Kentucky, University Press of Mississippi, University Press of New England.

Nonfiction literature pertains to any form of writing that imparts knowledge or elucidates real-life occurrences rather than weaving a narrative.

The primary categories of nonfiction publications encompass eBooks, printed books, and audiobooks. An audiobook represents an oral rendition of an electronically published book. The diverse genres within the realm of nonfiction literature encompass religion, travel, biography, history/law/political science, business/economics, cooking/entertainment, computers, crafts/antiques/hobbies/games, performing arts, and various other subjects, which are disseminated through online retail, bookstores, and direct sales channels.

The non-fiction books market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides non-fiction books market statistics, including non-fiction books industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a non-fiction books market share, detailed non-fiction books market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the non-fiction books industry. This non-fiction books market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the non-fiction books market in 2024. Middle East is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the non-fiction books market during the forecast period. The regions covered in the non-fiction books market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the non-fiction books market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The non-fiction books market consists of revenues earned by entities by carrying out design, editing, and marketing activities necessary for producing and distributing non-fiction books for adults. These establishments may publish books in print, electronic, or audio form. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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